Mexican Navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge: Cadet identified as first of 2 victims killed in fatal East River collision, official says
Share this @internewscast.com

NEW YORK — A Mexican official has reported that a female cadet was among the two individuals killed when a tall Mexican Navy ship on an international goodwill tour collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday evening.

According to the governor of Veracruz, Rocío Nahle, the victim is identified as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez.

“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez. My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family. My gratitude to the @SEMAR_mx and my wishes for a speedy recovery for those injured. Veracruz is with you,” Nahle expressed in a translated post on X.

Nearly two dozen others were also injured when the ship, known as the Cuauhtémoc, lost power and crashed into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The accident occurred just before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday near Brooklyn Bridge Park. Terrified bystanders watched helplessly as the huge ship carrying nearly 300 sailors advanced towards and then crashed into the 142-year-old bridge. The impact caused the ship’s three tall masts to snap, leaving crew members hanging in the air.

According to Mexican Navy officials, a total of 22 crew members have been reported injured so far, with at least 11 of them in critical condition. Two people aboard the ship died as a result of the collision.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams weighed in on social media early Sunday morning about the deadly crash.

“We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn’t much worse,” Adams said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, the New York City Department of Transportation says the Brooklyn Bridge was not damaged from the collision and that traffic can freely flow.

Vessels moving in the nearby area have since been instructed to proceed at slow speed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, as the Cuauhtémoc remains at Pier 36 on the East River for damage assessments and further evaluation.

The Cuauhtémoc, a training ship on an international goodwill mission, was set to disembark and was next headed to Iceland when the collision happened.

The ship was never meant to get that close to the Brooklyn bridge — it was going south to the Brooklyn waterfront for fuel before heading to Iceland to continue on that on that goodwill tour, when its pilot reported a mechanical failure and the ship lost power. The boat then drifted north, out of control.

The ship’s masts snapped as it struck the bridge’s underside, and pieces fell onto the deck. Officials say the iconic span itself did not sustain structural damage. All lanes on the bridge reopened after a brief closure following the collision.

The authorities said that 277 people were aboard the ship, and that nobody fell into the water, even as some sailors were left dangling from harnesses on the masts after the crash.

At least 19 people were injured, 4 seriously, after a Mexican Navy boat on a training cruise crashed into the bottom of the Brooklyn Bridge, officials say.

The victims were being taken away on stretchers at Pier 17 at South Street Seaport.

The National Transportation Safety Board is on site and will begin its investigation, but preliminary information shows it was likely a mechanical issue with the sailboat, according to officials.

Witness videos capture the ship’s ominous approach toward the bridge. In one video, a woman filming the ship, which was festooned with amber lights and a giant Mexican flag, can be heard wondering aloud if the ship might collide with the bridge. When the ship’s mast strikes the bottom of the bridge, she screams, “It crashed! It crashed!” in Spanish, and then, in English, as the ship continues to approach the Dumbo shore, “Stop! Stop!”

“Oh my God,” she continues in English, and then, in Spanish, she says, “It crashed, it crashed. Run away from there,” referring to people gathered on a pier where the ship seemed about to hit.

ABC News contributor John Nance discusses what we know so far after a Mexican Navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.

NYPD Harbor Unit and SCUBA were among the first responders who converged on the scene.

The Mexican ship was described as a “goodwill vessel” that had plied the waters since 1982.

The Cuauhtémoc is about 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, according to the Mexican Navy. The vessel’s main mast has a height of 160 feet, according to the Mexican government.

Each year, the ship sets out at the end of classes at the naval military school to finish cadets’ training. This year it left the Mexican port of Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, on April 6, the navy said.

“Thousands of people came to see the ship,” said Maria Mejia. The ship, now diminished and docked at Pier 36 drew visitors all week at the Seaport — right until it left.

The Mexican consulate said on May 13 on X that the Cuauhtémoc, also called the “Ambassador and Knight of the Seas,” arrived that day and docked at Pier 17. It invited people to visit through May 17.

The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations, including Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York.

It also had planned to go to Reykjavik, Iceland; Bordeaux, Saint Malo and Dunkirk, France; and Aberdeen, Scotland, among others, for a total of 254 days, 170 of them at sea.

Members of New York City’s Mexican community prayed for the families in mourning and for the recovery of those injured.

“As a community, we just want to say that we’re here for them,” Mejia added.

An NTSB team is now on board. The agency says its investigative team includes experts in nautical operations and marine and bridge engineering.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Minneapolis ICE shooting today: Protest held in Little Village, Chicago area after DHS says CE officer shoots, kills woman in MN

Protest Erupts in Little Village After DHS Reports ICE Officer Involved in Fatal Minneapolis Shooting

Protests erupted on Wednesday in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood and across the…
911 call at Ohio dentist's home reported 'domestic dispute' months before he and wife found shot dead: records

Mysterious ‘Banging’ Report: The Chilling 911 Call Before Ohio Dentist Couple’s Tragic Deaths

Just a week and a half before an Ohio dentist and his…
Florida boater accused of killing teen in crash avoids jail time with plea deal

Florida Boater Strikes Plea Deal, Escapes Jail in Teen Crash Case

A man has confessed to being involved in a tragic boating accident…
Mamdani can bridge India/Pakistan split

Mamdani Poised to Mend India-Pakistan Relations

Mayor Mamdani’s election is being celebrated as a groundbreaking event, drawing attention…
Rep. Steny Hoyer will not run for re-election, reports say

Reports indicate that Rep. Steny Hoyer will not seek re-election

Hoyer ranks as the third-longest-tenured member of the House. WASHINGTON — Reports…
Notorious 'Torso Killer' confesses to another killing

Infamous ‘Torso Killer’ Admits to Additional Murder, Unveiling Decades-Old Mystery

The Fair Lawn Police Department revealed on Tuesday the resolution of the…
SoCal Wildfires: How You Can help

Southern California Wildfires: Essential Ways to Support Relief Efforts and Aid Recovery

As we commemorate the one-year anniversary of the devastating Eaton and Palisades…
Police name suspect wanted for gunning down Bronx Uber driver

Bronx Uber Driver Shooting: Police Identify Suspect in Tragic Gun Violence Case

Authorities have identified a suspect in the tragic shooting of a Bronx…
Familiar groups mobilize immediately after ICE shooting of Minnesota protester

Unveiling the Tragic Story of Renee Nicole Good: Victim of the Minneapolis ICE Shooting

City authorities have released the identity of the woman fatally shot during…
Maxx Crosby undergoes knee surgery after messy end toRaiders season

Maxx Crosby Undergoes Knee Surgery Following Tumultuous Raiders Season Finale

Maxx Crosby has successfully undergone surgery on his meniscus and is set…
Morning Minute: Live, From Jefferson City...

Start Your Day with the Latest Updates from Jefferson City

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Good morning! Welcome to RedState’s “Morning Minute,” your…
Gretchen’s table: Papas con rajas tacos are a spicy, cheesy fiesta

Gretchen’s Table Introduces Spicy, Cheesy Delight with Papas con Rajas Tacos

By Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The holiday season often turns into a…